Hellickson wins 4th straight start for Rays

ST. PETERSBURG - JULY 5: Outfielder Desmond Jennings #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds third base on his way home in the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field on July 5, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)(Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jeremy Hellickson won his fourth consecutive start, Jose Molina had a two-run homer during a five-run second inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 8-3 on Friday night.

Hellickson (8-3) gave up one run, six hits and struck out nine in seven innings, helping the Rays win for the sixth time in seven games. The right-hander was coming off a strong June when he went 5-1.

Molina hit his two-run drive and the following batter, Kelly Johnson, connected for a solo shot three pitches later off Dylan Axelrod (3-5) to start the second-inning surge that saw the Rays go up 5-0.

Later in the inning, Evan Longoria had an RBI single before Wil Myers ended Axelrod’s night with a run-scoring double.